Electrical lock switch



ocft. 23,1930.

J. M. VAN SPLUNTER ELECTRICAL LOCK SWITCH Filed July 5, 1928 mlmmm f pmf z Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED. STATES JOHN 7M. VAN SPLUN'IER, YOFGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN '5 ELECTRICAL LocK'swrrcH n (Application filed July 5,

This invention relates to electrical lock switches and has among its'objectsa lock switch suitable for large-power high-voltage operation provided with an improved lock s'that is simple and economical in construction and particularly adapted for blade-type switches. r

The forces exerted in switches used in hightension circuits are very large, particularly under shortcircuit conditions. Accordingly,

a very great duty is imposed on the locks used in such locking switches andit is a considerable problem to provide a simple lock capable of withstanding the large forces towhich it is subjected while at the same time retaining simplicity of construction and mounting in the restricted: place at the end The objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngswherein Fig. 1 is a view of a double throw'switch' embodying my'invention;

Fig. 2'is a vertical sectional view through the switch lock mechanism of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a-vertical sectional view of the mechanism along the line-3+3 of Figf2; Fig. fis a view similar to Fig. 2'along the line 4-4'of'Fig.2;= I r Fig; 5 is an elevational view .of a} single throw switch embodying the invention, and

Fig; 6 is a'view 'similar to F igp2 ofthe lock'used on the single throw switch-of Fig. 5. Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate an embodiment 10f the invention in a double-throw type of switch. It comprises a switch blade 1" which is pivotally mounted on'a central post 2 and arranged tobe brought. into engagement with either one of two stationary contact members 3, {i made. of resilientjaws'adapted 1928. semi Nae-0,332;

to engage the opposite sides of the blade- 1. Each of the stationary contact members 3'. and 4 has on the outer side, directly underne'ath the space adapted to receive the blade, a catch member 5 inthe form of a hook for engagement with a corresponding hook of a lock 6'mounted onthe end-of the switch blade.

The construction of the lock 6 is shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 4. It comprises a pair of fiat side plates 7 having their lower ends secured to opposite sides of the end of the blade 1, by means of rivets 8, for instance, the two-sideplates defining a narrow, substantially rectangular; space 9 of the thickness of the blade Within this narrow rectangular space 9'are mounted the several elements of the lock mechanism, -This mechanlsm comprises an actuatingleve'r'll having I a central portion 12 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin l8secured between the opposite side plates 7 an outwardly extending handle or grip portion l t-provided, for instance,

with a suitable perforation l5 'for-engagement with, a hook rod to" close or open the switch; andan inwardly extending cam lever 16disposedin'the space 9 between the side I plates 7. On" both sides of the portion of f the lever 11 extending between the side plates 7: there are mounted two hookfle'vers 17, each hook lever having on one end a hook 175 adapted toengage the hook; catch 5 on the stationary contact members. Thei other end of eachhook arm 17 is pivotallymountedon a pin 18 likewise secured between the oppo-.

. site side plates 7 at the blade endiEach hook lever. '17 hasa laterally projecting arm" 19 extending towards the. end of-the blade 1,

theendportion of that arm constituting astop 20 for limiting the inward movement of the hook lever 17 The two arms 17-and 19 of each lever thus form a bell crank. The two hook levers: 17 are normally forced to closed position as shown iin'Fig. 2 by coiled i tension spring 22having its ends shapedinto wire-hooks 23 fitting into narrow slots 241 out along the middle lineof the lever arms 19, thewire hooksfengaging pins 25-transversely. extendmgacross said slots and held, 1n said arms. 1

The inner sides'ofthe. two hook lever arms. a

, the cam lever. 16 will swing one or the other of the hook levers 17 to. open position. Through the arrangement of the elements of the mechanism in the way described above,

- pull on the actuating lever 11 in a direction tending to open the switch will always lift the latch lever 17 which holds'the'switch locked out of engagement with its cooperating catch hook so that by a single movement ofthe actuating lever 11 the lock is released and the switch opened.

The central portion 12 of the actuating lever has an outer contour of such shape that said lever is free to swing around its pivot 13 to a suflicient extent to bring one or the other of the hook levers 17 out of engagement with its cooperating catch member 25, the body of the hook lever on the opposite side serving as a stop for the further movement of the actuating lever 11. r

The three levers have substantially the full thickness of the blade andfit into the narrow space 9 bounded by the two side plates 7. All these parts may be made of sheet metal by stamping and may be readily assembled through. very simple operations. The several pivoting pins 13 and 1S serve also as spacers, having their ends, somewhat reduced to form shoulders for holding the side plates 7 apart the required distance for securing-free and unobstructedmovement of the lock elements. Theends of these pins serve as rivets holding the side plates 7 in fixed position. Since-the three pivoting pins 13,

18 are mounted near the upper edge of the side plates, the" structure does not require any additional reinforcement and great rigidity is thus *secured with the utmost economy of material and working operations. By the arrangement described thefcam arm 19. on each hook lever 17 v is used for performing three functions, namely, to act as a stop for limiting the inward movement .of the hook lever, as'a cam surface for bringing thehook-lever to open'position, and as the anchoring point for-the spring which forces the leverto closed position, thereby contributing greatly to the simplicity "of the entire structure.

r The arrangement of the several lever arms is such that through a relatively small angular movement of the actuatingl'lever 11 a relatively large movement of the hook'levers 17 is obtained, the active length of the cam arms 19. being relatively short compared to the length of the hook arm 18. By anchoring the tension spring 22 near the end of the cam levers 19, while causing the cam mem ber.16.to-act on a shorter arm, a. relatively small spring is sufficient for holding the hook levers 17 firmly in closed position.

The lock of my invention is also suitable for use on single throw switches such as shown in Fig. 5. In the latter arrangement, the lock, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided only with a single hook lever 17 arranged similar to the construction shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The other hook lever on the opposite side is replaced by a spacing member 81 which may have the form of thehook lever with the hook portion extending outside of the contour of the side plates 7 cut off.

. Other constructions embodying the ideas underlying the exemplifications of my invention described above will suggestcthemselves to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the claimsbe given abroad con struction commensurate withthe scope of the invention within the art. I l v I claim: V c

1. In an electrical switch, a pair of posts, a switch blade pivotedi on one post, a catch on the other post and a lock on said blade adapted to engage said catch, said lock comprising a pair of side plates disposed on opposite sides of said blade and secured thereto, a hook lever pivotally mounted between said plates, said'hook lever having a hook arm extending outside the space between said :3-

plates and adapted to engage sai'd catch and a right angularly disposed cam arm extending between said plates and projecting against saidblade to form a stop, atension spring engaging the end of said cam arm to force 3.2;

said hook farm to closed position, an actuating lever pivotally mounted back of saidhook lever, said actuating lever having a grip portion projecting outside the space between said plates and a cam lever extending inside said "1 space for engagement with thei-nnerjsurface of said cam arm for actuating thesame to open positiong f r 2.. In anelect-ricallock switch, a pivotally mounted v switch blade, a stationaryfcontact 1 memberfor engaging said switch blade, said stationary member havinga pair of jaws for engaging said blade on vboth sides thereof and a catch disposed directly underneath the space adapted to beoccupiedby said blade, and a lock on said blade for. engaging said catch, said lock comprising a pair of'side plates secured on oppositesides of said blade to form a. narrow housing space therebetween,

a pair of pins secured near the free end ofsaid side zplates to hold the same in, fixed spaced relation, a hook lever pivoted onone of said pins disposed on the side adjacent said catch, an actuating lever; pivotally mounted onthepin back of said first mentioned pin, said hook lever having a cam arm extending in the direction .from its associated pivot pin against said blade, said actuating. lever, extending from its pivot pin in the j direction toward said .blade and. ar-

ranged to act upon said cam arm, and atension spring anchored in the space between said side plates-adjacent the said blade and engaging the end of said cam arm to hold the same in closed position.

3. In an electrical switch, a pivotally imounted blade, a stationary contact member adapted to be engaged by said blade, a hook catch on said stationary contact member, and a: lock on the endof said blade for engagementwith said hook catch, saidlock comprising a supporting member extending from said blade, a bell crank -lever-pivotally mounted on said supporting member, one arm of said bell crank lever having a hookforengagement with said catch', the otherarm of said bell ,crank lever projecting. against said blade and having a cam surface on the side away from said hook, an actuating lever p1votally mounted on said supporting memberadjacent to the pivoting point ofesaid bell crank lever on'the side op-posite'said hook arm, said actuating lever having a cam arm in engagement with said cam surface, and a spring acting on the end of said cam surface arm for forcing said hook lever into closed substantially in the same direction against "extending substantially in the same direc' said blade, saidrcam members having cam surfaces on the sides opposing each other, and an actuating lever pivotally mounted be tween said bell crank levers, said actuating lever having a cam arm engaging the opposite cam surfaces of said cam members, and spring means acting on said cam members for holding said hook members in closed position. 5. In an electrical switch, a pivotally mounted switch blade, a pair of-stationary contact members on opposite sides of said blade arranged to be engaged thereby, acatch on each of said stationary contact members,

7 and a lock onthe end of said bladeffor engagement with either one ofir said catches, said lock comprisinga supporting member extending from said blade, a pair of hell crank levers pivot-ally mounted on said supporting member, said bell cranklevers haviing a pair of hook members projecting away from each other and a pair of cam members tion against said blade, said cam members each other, and an actuating lever pivotally mounted between said bell cranklevers, said actuating lever having a cam arm engaging the opposite ,cam surfaces of said cam members, and a ,tension spring connecting the ends ofsaidcam nembers to hold said hook members in closed-position. j Y 3 6. 111; a double-throw switch, a pair of stationary contact members," a pivotally mounted blade adapted to be thrown in .contact WltlliQlllllQI one of said contact members,

having cam surfaces. on the sidesopposing V I a CittCllI'OIl each of 'saidfcontactmembers, a

vdour'Jle-throw lock onthe end of said blade for engagement with either of said-catches for; locking said blade, said lock comprising a pair of platessecured ;to the end of said blade on opposite 'sidesthereof to form; a housingspacetherebetween, a pair of bell crank levers pivotally mounted within said space near the outer ends thereof, each of said levershaving a hook arm projecting outside of saidhousing space in the direction away from said blade for engagement with one of said catches, and a cam arm extend-V; lug inethe direction toward said, blade, each of said cam arms having a cam surface on the side facing the cam arm of the otherllever,

and an actuating lever pivotally mounted between said side plates in the space between said levers, said actuating lever having an actuating member proj ectingloutsideof said housing space, and a cam member projecting from the pivoting point into the space he tween the cam surfaces ofsaid cam arms for engagement therewith, and a tension spring connecting the freeendsof said cam arms;-

f 7., In adouble-throwlock switch,a pair of stationary contact members, 'aupivotally mounted "switch blade for engagement with either'ofsaid contact members, alcatch on :each'ofsaidl contact mer'nbers, alock on the end of said bladefor engagement with either of said fcatches to lock said'blade in closed positiomsaid lock comprisinga pair of substantially, rectangular plates sec'uredf at the end of said bladeon'opposite sides thereof i and extendingsubstantially' in the direction offs aid blEtQlQ EQ define a substan lly'rectani. gular houslng space therebetw n, an f actu;

atingwlever, ,piv'otally'mounted near" the free end ofsaid housing space between said plates substantially. in the center thereof for, swinging movement in the plane of said blade, said actuating lever havingfla gri ea1ber extending outside said housingspacaanda' cam 3 lneinb'eriextending insidev said housing space in the direction from the .Ipivoting point toward saidblade, a'lpair of bell cranrc'leve'rs epivotally mounted adjacent to the outer edge ofsaid rectang ilar housing space on opposite sideslof the pivoting point of said actua ingflever, each of said bell. crank levers I havinga hook armextending away from said actuating le ri qr eng gem n w th ne o said catches, and a cam arm havin iacam surface extending into engagement with said I sides thereof and extending substantially in the direction of said blade to define a substantially rectangular housing space therebetween, an actuating lever pivotally mounted near the free end of said housing space between said plates substantially in" the center thereof for swinging movement in the plane of said blade, said actuating lever having a grip member extending outside said housing space, and a cam member extending inside said housing space in the direction from the pivoting point toward said blade, a pair of bell crank levers pivotally mounted adjacent to the outer edge of said rectangular housing space on opposite sides of the pivoting point of said actuating lever, each of of said bell crank levers having a hook arm extending away from said actuating lever for engagement with one of said catches, and a cam arm having a cam surface extending into engagement with said cam member, and

a tension spring connecting the end points of said cam arms,'said'b ell crank levers and said actuating lever having a thickness correof'said cam arm to move said bell crank lever to closed position, V i

10. Man electrical switch,a pair of'posts,

a Switchblade pivotally-mounted on one of said posts, a catch on the other of said posts, 7

and a lock'on the endof said blade adapted to engage said catch t'o hold said blade in closed position, said lock comprising a pair of side plates secured to the end of said bladeon opposite sides thereof'to form a substantially rectangular housing 'space,'a bell crank lever pivotally mounted near the outer end of said housingspace for rocking movement in the plane of said blade, 'saidbell crank lever having ahook arm-extending away from said blade for engagement with said catch, and a tending'from the pivoting point outside said housing space, and a cam'meniber extending from said pivoting point into engagement with the cam surface of said cam arm for swinging said hook lever to open position,-and a spring acting on the end of said cam arm to move said bell crank lever'to closed position, said'bellcrank lever and said actuating lever having substantially the thickness of said blade, In testimonywhereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of June, 1928.

J OHN" M. VAN SPLUNTER.

sponding substantially to the thickness of said blade; I

. 9. In an electrical switch,a pair of posts,

switch blade pivotally mounted on one of said posts, a catch on the other of said posts,

and a lock on the end of said blade adapted to engage said catch to hold said blade in closed position, said lock comprising a pair of side plates secured to the'end of said blade on oppositesi'des thereof to form a substantiallyrectangular housing space, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted near the outer end of said housing space for rocking movement 5 in the plane of said b1ade, said bell crank lever having a hook arm extending away from said blade for engagement with said r catch, and a cam arm extending within said housing space and having a cam surface on the side opposite said hookarm, an actuating flever pivotally mounted in said housing space,;said actuating-lever having a grip member extendingfrom' the pivoting point outside said housing space, and a cam member extendmgvfrom: said plvotmgpolnt into lengagement with the cam surface of said Scam arm for'swinglng sald hooklever to 65' open position, anda spring acting on the end 

